Mississippi students to hold demonstrations against gun violence, guns in schools bill

A portion of the 911 calls and first responders’ radio traffic recorded during the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting last month has been released to the public. (March 8)
AP

Mourners bring flowers as they pay tribute at a memorial for the victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 25 in Parkland, Fla. Students across the country are expected to walk out of class Wednesday to call for gun reform.(Photo: DAVID SANTIAGO/AP)

Some Mississippi school students expected to join a demonstration protesting gun violence said they do not support legislation that would allow schools to train and arm designated employees on campus.

Students across the country are expected to leave their classrooms at 10 a.m. on Wednesday as part of the National School Walkout, which was organized in response to the Feb. 14 deadly mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, that claimed the lives of 17 students and educators.

Pascagoula High School Principal Anthony Herbert said he expects up to 500 students to walk out of class and take part in the 17-minute student-led event, which will take place at the school’s football stadium.

Wednesday marks the one-month anniversary of the attack, and Herbert said he began meeting with student leaders last month to coordinate details with the goal of minimal disruption to the learning process.

“I don’t want to sound like a cliche, but we really are raising tomorrow’s leaders,” he said. “If we’re going to do that in an effective way, we need to make sure they know the proper way to have a voice.”

Herbert said several students planning the demonstration are opposed to the Senate’s passage of a House bill that would authorize districts to adopt a voluntary school safety program that would allow teachers or other employees to carry guns.

Supporters have envisioned the legislation as a preventative measure against school shootings; several educators and students have pushed back against the proposal.

Asked if he were concerned about drawing the ire of the legislation's proponents, Herbert responded: slightly.

"We're a school that has about 260 graduating seniors, many of whom are already old enough to vote. At the end of the day, if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything. There's a right way and wrong way to get your message out there, and we want students to get it out there the right way."

Caroline Wiygul, a senior at nearby Ocean Springs High School, said she along with several of her classmates will gather in their school’s courtyard at 10 a.m. for 17 minutes to honor each of the shooting victims.

Wiygul says she was inspired by the mobilization of the Parkland survivors who launched the "Never Again" movement with the goal of passing tighter gun regulations to prevent gun violence.

The 17-year-old was a part of a group of student leaders who coordinated with Ocean Springs officials to arrange the demonstration.

Students will be dismissed from class four minutes early to participate in the event, which will then take place during the school’s scheduled morning break.

Ocean Springs Superintendent Bonita Coleman said administrators worked with students to coordinate the demonstration as "an organized period of reflection — not a walkout."

"I'm glad our students felt comfortable coming to us and having the conversation," she said.

Working together, Coleman said, helps to keep students safe.

Wiygul also said it was important to get approval from administrators because organizers didn’t want students deterred from attending because of possible repercussions for leaving class unexcused.

“We’re not trying to rebel against them, and we don’t want to take away from class time,” she said. “But it was important for the event to take place during school to honor children, who can no longer attend school, because of poor gun safety (laws).”